Former Spain No.1 and Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Canizares has been given the backing of Spain head coach Luis Aragonés to be included in Spain's World Cup squad, in what would be the Valencia keeper’s first national call-up in almost a year.

Aragonés described 36-year-old Canizares' recent club form as “phenomenal”, saying that if the veteran keeper maintained his fitness, he would secure his place as the squad's third-choice goalkeeper, behind Real Madrid's Iker Casillas and Liverpool's Pepe Reina.

Speaking in an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca on Tuesday, Aragonés said: “He's earning a World Cup (place) and he deserves to be here with us. He's as good as Casillas and Reina.”

Canizares, who has earned 44 international caps, was first omitted from the Furia Roja squad last June when Aragonés announced his squad for Spain’s World Cup qualifying games against Lithuania and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

This coincided with Canizares losing his place in Valencia's starting line-up.

Canizares has the best record of any goalkeeper in La Liga, having only conceded 19 goals in 26 games this season, less than any other Spanish league 'keeper.

Spain have been drawn in Group H in the World Cup Finals and face Ukraine, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia in the tournament which kicks off in Germany on June 9.

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